STOP PRETENDING: WHAT HAPPENED WHEN MY BIG SISTER WENT CRAZY

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Sones, Sonya. 1999. STOP PRETENDING: WHAT HAPPENED WHEN MY BIG SISTER WENT CRAZY. New York: Harper Collins Publishers.

PLOT SUMMARY

When 13 year old Cookie's older sister has a mental breakdown on Christmas Eve and is admitted to the psych ward, Cookie is forced to adjust to a new life.  Suddenly, her own mother, father, and sister all seem like perfect strangers to her as the family tries to deal with this new "normal."  Through verse, Sonya Sones takes the reader on the emotional roller coaster Cookie travels on as she worries not only about her sister, but what everyone will think of her once they find out about her sister's illness.  Cookie visits her sister often in the hospital hoping to reconnect with the sister she now considers a stranger.    

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

STOP PRETENDING is a powerful novel written in verse that grabs the reader’s attention on the very first page and keeps them engaged to the end.  Sonya Sones tells this complicated and painful, yet touching story though a series of short poems that contain an array of raw emotions.  Each poem takes the reader inside the painful realities that families face when they are challenged with mental illness.

Sones uses short lines in her poems that are often a page or less in length, but filled with honest emotions and powerful words.  In the shortest poem, "The Truth Is," the reader gets a glimpse into Cookie's innermost feelings as she visits her sister in the hospital - "I don't want to see you./ I dread it./ There./ I've said it."  Longer poems that include more details are also included and add to the story.

Throughout the book imagery is used to help the reader understand what Cookie goes through.  In "During History Class," for example, Sones uses careful language to paint a heartbreaking picture of Molly writing a note about Cookie's sister and passing it around class to several other girls who "giggle", "stifle laughs", "grin", and "snicker" as they each read it.  Cookie is able to get the note which says "COOKIE'S SISTER IS CUCKOO" and has a picture of a girl that has crossed eyes and wild hair below the words.  Cookie says "I cram the note/into my pocket/and pray for the bell to ring/so I can escape/before anyone sees my face./ I hate them all."  The reader feels Cookie's pain as she deals with this awful situation.

When Cookie spends time with her sister in the hospital, she often remembers how their relationship used to be before she got sick.  Although she starts to accept her new relationship with her sister, she never gives up hope that her sister might eventually get better.  The poems vividly take the reader though Cookie's state of depression over her sister's condition to one of acceptance and hope for her entire family's future.

The author's note explains the background of this emotional story and includes a list of resources to get help dealing with mental illness.  The events in STOP PRETENDING were based on Sones' sister who was eventually able to overcome her manic-depressive diagnosis, but still struggles at times and is continuously treating her disease.  Knowing that this is based on the real events of Sonya Sones' life only enriches an already powerful story.  

AWARDS & REVIEW EXCERPTS

Review Excerpts:

"In a story based on real events, and told in poems, Sones explores what happened and how she reacted when her adored older sister suddenly began screaming and hearing voices in her head, and was ultimately hospitalized. Individually, the poems appear simple and unremarkable, snapshot portraits of two sisters, a family, unfaithful friends, and a sweet first love. Collected, they take on life and movement, the individual frames of a movie that in the unspooling become animated, telling a compelling tale and presenting a painful passage through young adolescence." -Kirkus, 1999

"Based on the journals Sones wrote at the age of 13 when her 19-year-old sister was hospitalized due to manic depression, the simply crafted but deeply felt poems reflect her thoughts, fears, hopes, and dreams during that troubling time." - School Library Journal, 1999

Awards:

Claudia Lewis Award for Poetry

Myra Cohn Livingston Poetry Award

Gradiva Award for Best Poetry Book

CONNECTIONS

Discussion questions to use with kids while reading the book - http://www.sonyasones.com/books/stop/readguide.html

Frequently Asked Questions of Sonya Sones including how she got the idea to write STOP PRETENDING and how she started writing novels in verse- http://www.sonyasones.com/FAQs/faq001.html#stop

A note to educators from Sonya Sones about what they can do to help students who have family members going through mental illnesses - http://www.sonyasones.com/books/stop/teachers.html

Other books by Sonya Sones also written in verse:

-ONE OF THOSE HIDEOUS BOOKS WHERE THE MOTHER DIES  ISBN: 1416907882 

-WHAT MY MOTHER DOESN'T KNOW   ISBN: 1416907882 

-WHAT MY GIRLFRIEND DOESN'T KNOW  ISBN: 0689876025  

Young adult book on mental illness:

-I DON'T WANT TO BE CRAZY. By: Samantha Schutz  ISBN: 043980518X 

IN THE SWIM

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Florian, Douglas. 1997. IN THE SWIM. San Diego: Harcourt Inc. ISBN: 0152024379

 

PLOT SUMMARY

IN THE SWIM by Douglas Florian features 21 playful and informative poems that all gather around the topic of sea creatures.  Familiar sea animals like the catfish and whale are included as well as little known creatures such as the blenny.  Each poem uses witty language to describe the characteristics of the sea animal which makes them fun and interesting to read.  

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

This collection of poems is written in a format that children will enjoy.  Each poem is short, but filled with unique details about each animal that will not only entertain kids, but also educate them.  Florian uses rhyming patterns throughout his poems such as in "The Catfish"- "I cannot purr./ I don't have fur/ or claws or paws."  Free verse poems are also included.   Most of the poems are written in a standard format, but "The Sawfish" is written in a zig-zag shape representing the shape of a sawfish's teeth and "The Salmon" is written to be read from bottom to top representing the salmon's upstream swim referenced in the poem.

Florian uses the names of the sea creatures to create metaphors that the children will understand and enjoy.  For example in "The Sea Horse" he compares a seahorse to a horse, "You have/ No hooves./ You have no hair./ You don't eat oats./ You don't breathe air./ You hatch from eggs..."  He does a great job of comparing two unrelated creatures that are similar only in their names.

Each poem included in IN THE SWIM is written on one page and a watercolor illustration of the sea creature the poem is about is on the adjacent page.  The illustrations are beautiful watercolor paintings that take up the entire page and play into the humor of the poems.  The illustration for "The Sea Horse," for example, shows seahorses that are wearing bridles and saddles and are on a racetrack.   These details in the illustrations complement the humor in the poetry that the kids will love.  

AWARDS & REVIEW EXCERPTS

"What's unusual here is the sheer, unforced playfulness, the ease and fluidity informing both verse and pictures." -School Library Journal; May 1997




"This witty intersection of poetry, art, and science will delight children and may inspire them to come up with their own creative ideas." -  Booklist; March 1997

CONNECTIONS

-Have students use the clues in the poem to infer what type of sea creature the poem is about

-Use this book as a supplement to an ocean unit for students to learn about other sea creatures.

-Have kids compare Florian's illustrations depicting the sea animal in the poem to a real picture of the animal.

Other poetry books by Douglas Florian that are gathered around a general subject:
- COMETS, STARS, THE MOON, AND MARS. By Douglas Florian. ISBN: 0152053727
- INSECTLOPEDIA. By Douglas Florain. ISBN: 0152163352
- BEAST FEAST. By Douglas Florian. ISBN: 0152017372
- MAMMALABILIA. By Douglas Florian.   ISBN: 0152050248
- ON THE WING. By Douglas Florian.  ISBN: 0152023666

This is Just to Say: Poems of Apology and Forgiveness

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Sidman, Joyce. 2007. THIS IS JUST TO SAY: POEMS OF APOLOGY AND FORGIVENESS. Ill. by: Pamela Zagarenski. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co. ISBN: 0618616802 

  

PLOT SUMMARY

Mrs. Merz, a 6th grade teacher at Florence Scribner School, asks her class to write poems of apology after reading William Carlos Williams' poem "This Is Just to Say."  They are so impressed with the poems that are written, the class decides to turn them into a book.  The students write about a variety of subjects like dodge ball, losing pets, stealing, crushes, and friendships.  Some students are sincere in their apologies, and some aren't really sorry at all.  They ask the people to whom they have apologized to write a poem back to them in response to their poem of apology.  Some are met with responses that include forgiveness, but not all were forgiven.  

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Joyce Sidman has used many different types of poetry, everything from haiku to pantoums, to keep readers on their toes with every page turn.  The book includes poems that are about a variety of subjects and evoke a wide range of emotions from happiness to heartbreak.  The first half of the book includes the poems of apology for something the children in Mrs. Merz's imaginary class have done intentionally or unintentionally.   The second half of the book includes the responses to these apology poems.  Sidman creates a unique voice for each student in the book which helps the reader connect with the characters and makes them curious to hear what the response to the apology will be.  

Although this is a fictitious 6th grade class, the poems are written using believable language and about convincing subject matter.  For example, Carrie writes "Roses are red / Violets are blue / I'm still really / pissed off at you." in response to her sister's poem to her about stabbing her with a pencil.  Another student, Jewel, writes to her dad who has left the family again, apologizing for not being perfect.  In response, her dad writes a letter to her stating that her poem to him saved his life.  She turns his letter into a poem that is included as the response.  In a less serious pair of poems, Kyle and Reuben write about getting carried away in a doge ball game.  Everyone will be able to find at least one poem in THIS IS JUST TO SAY: POEMS OF APOLOGY AND FORGIVENESS to connect to because of the variety.  

Pamela Zagarenski uses mixed media to illustrate each poem.  She includes items drawn on notebook paper, grid paper, and even newspaper because that is similar to what kids might have sketched on.  Some illustrations cleverly include details from the poems and other illustrations take a word and depict it in a different way than it is used in the poem.  For example, in the poem "Balance," Jose is apologizing to his dad for smashing the garage window.  He claims that one window already had a crack, so to balance it out he cracked another one.  The illustration for this poem shows a person balancing on a wheel and someone balancing on top of him which is a different meaning of balance than written about in the poem.  The nontraditional illustrations are appropriate for this nontraditional collection of poems.  

AWARDS & REVIEW EXCERPTS

Awards:

Claudia Lewis Poetry Award

Cybils Poetry Award

Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award Honor Book

IRA Teacher's Choice Book

Texas Bluebonnet Award Nomination

North Carolina Junior Book Nomination

Review Excerpts:

"Sidman's ear is keen, capturing many voices. Her skill as a poet accessible to young people is unmatched. Zagarenski's delicately outlined collage drawings and paintings are created on mixed backgrounds-notebook paper, paper bags, newspaper, graph paper, school supplies. This is an important book both for its creativity and for its wisdom." School Library Journal (May 1, 2007)

"Despite a slight uneven quality or perhaps because of it, the whole is far more captivating than expected. Packed with the intensity of everyday pain and sorrow, kids and adults exchange the words that convey grief, delight, love and acceptance of themselves and others." Kirkus Reviews (March 15, 2007)

"The fictional authors of the poems are featured in various activities relating to the subject of the poems and provide a very pleasant balance to the text. Children will find much to identify with in the situations presented in the apology poems, and they'll appreciate the resolutions given in the responses." Booklist (May 15, 2007 (Vol. 103, No. 18))

CONNECTIONS

-Reader's/Teacher's Guide that includes discussion questions, writing exercises, and helpful tips on creating a class book of poems - http://www.joycesidman.com/thiisjusttosayTG.html

-Listen to Joyce Sidman read her poems from THIS IS JUST TO SAY: POEMS OF APOLOGY AND FORGIVENESS - http://www.joycesidman.com/Listen.html

-Use these poems to teach different forms of poetry

-Use the book to teach about using voice in writing

-MIRROR MIRROR: A BOOK OF REVERSIBLE VERSE by Marilyn Singer.  ISBN: 0525479015 

-BLUE LIPSTICK: CONCRETE POEMS by: John Grandits. ISBN: 0618568603 

-SWIRL BY SWIRL: SPIRALS IN NATURE by Joyce Sidman. ISBN: 054731583X 

-THE WORLD ACCORDING TO DOG: POEMS AND TEEN VOICES by Joyce Sidman. ISBN: 0618174974 

Ten Suns

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Kimmel, Eric. 1998. Ten Suns: A Chinese Legend. Ill. by Yongsheng Xuan. New York, NY: Holiday House, Inc.  ISBN 0823413179

PLOT SUMMARY

In this Chinese legend retold by Eric Kimmel, Di Jun and his wife, Xi He, have ten sons (ten suns).  Di Jun is the god who rules the part of the sky where the sun comes up.  Every morning before dawn one of the sons would walk across the sky starting on the eastern horizon and finishing in the west bringing warmth and light to the earth.  The sons complain that walking across the sky day after day and all alone is boring.  They all decide that they will enjoy their task a lot more if they walk across the sky together.  The people of earth wake up to see ten suns in the sky, crops dying, forests on fire, lakes and rivers dried up, and the sea boiling due to the excessive heat.  The heat was too much for the people and animals to bear and they eventually would die.  The people's cries to Di Jun awoke he and his wife and they realized what their sons had done.  The suns defied their father's orders to come out of the sky, so he called on the Archer of Heaven to use a magic bow and arrow to shoot down the ten suns.  Nine of the sons were shot with the arrows, leaving one still in the sky.  As they were shot, they each fell to earth and became a crow.  In their new lives as crows, they greet their brother every morning, "Gua! Gua!" as he begins his walk across the sky.   

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Eric Kimmel's retelling of one of the oldest Chinese myths, Ten Suns, seeks to explain why there is only one sun in the sky.  The superhuman skills of the characters in the story combined with the explanation of how the sun came to be in the sky will fascinate young readers.  The use of traditional Chinese names throughout the book adds to the authenticity of the tale.  Respecting your elders, understanding the consequences of your actions, and following directions are themes that are present within this story.  Kimmel's descriptive details capture the reader and will keep kids interested in finding out how the story will end.

Yongsheng Xuan uses beautiful, bold illustrations that are filled with bright colors that captivate the audience.  He used a "dry painting method" where watercolor is used with lines drawn by watercolor pens, pencils, and crayons in Ten Suns.  Because the illustrations are so detailed and correlate so well with the text, they add another dimension to the story.  The use of traditional Chinese symbols and dress within the illustrations throughout the book remind the reader that this is a Chinese legend with deep cultural roots.  

AWARDS & REVIEW EXCERPTS

"Master storyteller Kimmel takes a traditional Chinese legend and gives it a fresh retelling." "Kimmel's narrative and the dramatic illustrations by Chinese artist Xuan work wonderfully together to create a beautiful tale of Chinese gods, misuse of power, and heroism that restores the faith of a people." Booklist (Vol. 94, No. 17 (May 1, 1998))

"The varied vibrant colors, shapes, and textures are a feast: Sinews pop from trees, muscles bulge on the archer, garments roil and flow from the gods. Combined with Kimmel's simple yet captivating retelling, these evocative illustrations will appeal to readers and listeners alike."  Kirkus Reviews (1998)

CONNECTIONS

-Listen to Eric Kimmel read some of his latest stories http://ericakimmel.com/hear-a-story/

-Read Eric's answers to kid's questions and ask one of your own!  http://ericakimmel.com/ask-eric/

Sun Folktales:

-Grandmother Spider brings the sun : a Cherokee story by Geri Keams ; illustrated by James Bernardin  ISBN: 0-87358-694-8

-The archer and the sun : a tale from China by Rob Cleveland ; illustrated by Baird Hoffmire. ISBN: 0-87483-878-9

-Anansi and the Sky Kingdom  by Bobby & Sherry Norfolk ; illustrated by Baird Hoffmire ISBN: 0-87483-881-9

Chinese Folktales:

- Lon Po Po : a Red-Riding Hood story from China  by Ed Young. ISBN: 0-399-21619-7

-Tikki Tikki Tembo by Arlene Mosel; illustrated by Blair Lent. ISBN: 0-8050-0662-1

-Yeh-Shen : a Cinderella story from China by Ai-Ling Louie;  illustrated by Ed Young. ISBN: 0-399-20900-X 

There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Taback, Simms. There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly. New York: Penguin Books, 1997. ISBN: 0670869392

PLOT SUMMARY


There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly, written and illustrated by Simms Taback, is an American folk poem that begins with an old lady swallowing a fly.  None of the animal onlookers understand why she swallowed the fly and the refrain "I don't know why she swallowed the fly.  Perhaps she'll die." beings.  The old lady swallows a spider to catch the fly, then a bird to catch the spider, cat to catch the bird, dog to catch the cat, cow to catch the dog, and finally a horse to catch the cow.  The horse is too much for the old lady and she ends up dying.  The moral of the story is "Never swallow a horse."

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

This cumulative tale, when read aloud, is extremely catchy and will have kids reading along with the repeated and rhyming phrases "I don't know why she swallowed the....  Perhaps she'll die."  As an American folk poem that was first heard in the United States in the 1940's, there have been different versions told, but the original author is unknown.  Taback does a great job of capturing an older than usual audience with his version of There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly by including witty comments from the animals in the story and humorous details to the illustrations.

The illustrations in this story are very bold, bright, and colorful and really are the highlight of this book.  Taback uses a di-cut pages to show the reader each animal inside of the old lady's growing belly.  The mixed media illustrations include lots of details that are worth looking for on each page.  On the page where the old lady swallows the dog, for example, there are many different illustrations of dogs with their breed listed below.  Also included  in the collage are other objects people associate with dogs like dog bowls, bones, tags, signs and even an August calendar with "dog days" stamped across it and a National Enquirer headline that reads "Lady Wolfs Down Dog."  There is a page that shows all different things that come from cows and the back cover lists 18 different types of flies along with an illustration.  These unexpected additions to the story by the illustrations add to the appeal of There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly.  When read aloud, kids will have a hard time resisting the playful text and captivatingly clever illustrations.  

AWARDS & REVIEW EXCERPTS

Caldecott Honor Book 2008


"This version of the well-known folk poem includes additional comments (in rhyme) by the soon-to-be-eaten animals as they witness the zany old lady devouring progressively bigger and bigger animals until she, "of course," perishes. Bold, colorful artwork includes childlike cartoon drawings, detailed collages for individual perusing, and clever die-cut holes for gastrological peeking."  Horn Book (March, 1998)

"From cover to moral (never swallow a horse), this cleverly illustrated version of an old folk favorite will delight children. Each page is full of details and humorous asides, from the names of different types of birds, to a recipe for spider soup, to the rhyming asides from the spectating animals. As for the old lady, with her toothy grin and round bloodshot eyes, she looks wacky enough to go so far as to swallow a horse. A die-cut hole allows readers to see inside her belly, first the critters already devoured and, with the turn of the page, the new animal that will join the crowd in her ever-expanding stomach." School Library Journal (December 1997)

CONNECTIONS

Excerpt from from the DVD There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed A Fly narrated by Cyndi Lauper. http://www.simmstaback.com/Simms_Taback_Videos_-_There_Was_An_Old_Lady.html


Books that add on items:
The Napping House by Audrey Wood, illustrated by Don Wood ISBN: 0152014179
Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears by Verna Aardema, illustrated by Leo and Diane Dillon ISBN: 0140549056
Zin! Zin! Zin! A Violin by Lloyd Moss, illustrated by Marjorie Priceman  ISBN: 0689835248

Book that subtracts items:
Joseph Had a Little Overcoat by Simms Taback ISBN: 0670878553

Printables of the old lady and everything that she swallows for a felt board or read aloud:
http://www.kizclub.com/storypatterns/swallowed.pdf (black and white)
http://www.kizclub.com/storypatterns/swallowed(C).pdf (color)

The Three LIttle Javelinas

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Lowell, Susan. (1992). The three little javelinas. Ill. by Jim Harris. Flagstaff, Arizona: Northland Pub.  ISBN: 0-87358-542-9

PLOT SUMMARY

The Three Little Javelinas is a southwestern version of The Three Little Pigs which takes place in the Sonoran Desert.  Lowell uses javelinas, a cousin of the pig, as the main characters in the story.  Instead of a big bad wolf as in the traditional tale, the trickster in this story is a coyote who is hungry for a javelina.  The author adds to the southwestern theme by having the javelinas build their houses out of tumbleweed, saguaro cactus, and adobe bricks.  The coyote huffs and puffs and blows the first and second javelina's houses down.  The coyote follows each javelina to the next house and eventually ends up at the house made with adobe bricks and all three javelinas are inside.  Excited to feast on all three of the javelinas, he tries to blow the house down, but fails.  He decides to head down the stovepipe, but this time the javelinas outsmart him.  

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Susan Lowell has created The Three Little Javelinas as a southwestern version of the traditional tale, The Three Little Pigs.  Lowell does a great job of including a detailed description of the javelinas, which may be unknown to young readers, and even includes a pronunciation.  The refrains "Not by the hair or my chinny-chin-chin!" and "Then I'll huff, and I'll puff, and I"ll blow your house in!" are included and clearly remind the reader of the traditional story that this southwestern tale originated from.  


The southwestern setting is clear throughout the book due to the detailed descriptions and illustrations depicting the surroundings.  The javelinas are dressed from head to toe in traditional cowboy clothes such as cowboy hats, belt buckles, bandannas, chaps, and spurs.  They use tumbleweed, saguaro cactus ribs, and adobe bricks to build their houses which replace straw, sticks and brick from the original tale.  The illustrations include desert landscapes with purple mountains, cacti, rabbits, rattle snakes, mice, and skulls.  They are not only beautiful and clever, they also stay true to the southwestern landscape.  If kids look carefully, a little mouse appears in almost every illustration.  


There is a pour quoi element to this story that isn't included in the traditional tale.  The end of the story explains why you might hear coyotes howling at night in the desert.  This adds a fun twist for kids, especially if they've ever heard the sound of a coyote howling.  


Kids will love to read this book and compare it to the traditional tale that they are most likely familiar with.  Anyone who lives in or has visited the southwestern United States will particularly enjoy connecting with the illustrations and southwestern elements included in the story.  Lowell and Harris have done a wonderful job of explaining the characters and setting clearly so that those with no background knowledge will still be able to enjoy this version of The Three Little Pigs.  

AWARDS & REVIEW EXCERPTS

"In this southwest retelling of "The Three Little Pigs," the setting and characters work comfortably within the tale's framework. A coyote seeks anthropomorphic javelinas in tumbleweed, saguaro rib, and adobe houses made with help from Native-American and Latino characters. While depicting the true landscape, the illustrations exaggerate the homely "pigs" with very hairy chinny-chin-chins for a riotous adventure."  Horn Book (March, 1993)

"This clever and flavorful change of scene puts a diverting spin on an old favorite. Harris's lively, finely detailed illustrations, with the bristling, pink-nosed peccaries clad in cowboy outfits, amusingly contrast the villain's vigorous wiles with the title characters' cozy domesticity. Sprightly fun."  Publisher's Weekly (September 14, 1992)

CONNECTIONS

-Other Southwestern Tales:

Lowell, Susan. Dusty Locks and the Three Bears. ISBN 0805075348

Lowell, Susan. Cindy Ellen: A Wild Western Cinderella. ISBN 0060274468

Lowell, Susan. Little Red Cowboy Hat. ISBN 0805064834 

Lowell, Susan. Josefina Javelina: A Hairy Tale ISBN: 0873587901 

Lowell, Susan. The Tortoise and the Jackrabbit. ISBN: 0873585860 

Ward, Jennifer. There Was a Coyote Who Swallowed a Flea. ISBN: 0873588983

-Jim Harris writes about the illustrations http://www.jimharrisillustrator.com/ChildrensBooks/Books/Thethreelittlejavelinas.html

-Readers Theater for The Three Little Javelinas  Click Here for PDF

-Students could compare and contrast The Three Little Javelinas to The Three Little Pigs using a graphic organizer.

-Have students research desert life.

Sylvester and the Magic Pebble

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Steig, William. 1969. Sylvester and the Magic Pebble. New York: Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers. ISBN 1416902066

PLOT SUMMARY

Sylvester Duncan is a donkey who collects unusual pebbles that lives in the countryside with his mother and father.  One rainy day, he finds a red pebble that is so round and perfectly shiny, it is like a marble.  He quickly realizes that his new pebble is magical.  On his way home, he encounters a lion on his journey which terrifies him.  The only thing he can think to do is wish that he would turn into a rock so that they lion doesn't notice him.  As a rock, Sylvester is unable to use the powers of the red pebble that lay right beside him.  Mr. and Mrs. Duncan become worried and upset when Sylvester doesn't return home and they set out to find out where he could be.  Months go by, seasons change, and the Duncans have given up hope of finding their son.  Trying to bring some cheer to Mrs. Duncan, Mr. Duncan suggests they have a picnic on Strawberry Hill, and they unknowingly set up their food on top of Sylvester.  Mr. Duncan sees the pebble by the rock and instantly thinks how much Sylvester would love it.  He places it on top of the rock that they are using as a table for their picnic.  Sylvester wishes that he was himself again so he could be with his parents, and the magic of the rock works just the way it should. 

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Steig takes us on a charming, and sometimes heart wrenching adventure full of fantasy in Sylvester and the Magic Pebble.  Personification is used by giving all the animals in the book human characteristics.  Though the carefully chosen, rich vocabulary in this story, the reader is able to feel every emotion that Sylvester and the Duncans go through, helping to form a connection with the characters.  Children of all ages can relate to the excitement that finding a magic rock might bring, and the extreme sadness that being away from your family and all alone would feel like.  The clear theme of being happy with what you have comes through strong at the end of the story when Sylvester is reunited with his family.  

Steig's use of imagery allows the reader to create vivid mental images that are complimented by the beautiful watercolor artwork included in the book.  The facial expressions and body language that Seig includes in the illustrations of the animal characters compliment the text perfectly to portray the wide range of emotions in this story.  As the seasons change, the illustrations very accurately depict the scenery during the passage of time.  The picture on the last page of the family lovingly embracing each other on the couch helps the young reader to understand that having the family together again is the best wish of all.  

AWARDS & REVIEW EXCERPTS

Awards: Caldecott Medal 1970

Review Excerpts: 

"This tale of a donkey who wishes on a magic pebble has charmed a generation of readers and will no doubt go on to attract a new one."  Publishers Weekly (November 21, 2005)

CONNECTIONS

-Have students find cause and effect relationships within the story 

-Talk about the word choice Steig uses and encourage students to use descriptive writing in their stories.

-Use the descriptions and illustrations to talk about the different characteristics of the seasons

-Infer feelings and emotions of characters from illustrations and text descriptions


dePaola, Tomie. Strega Nona : an original tale. ISBN: 0-7587-0151-9

Aardema, Verna. Why mosquitoes buzz in people's ears : a West African tale.  ISBN: 0-8037-6089-2

Steig, William. The Amazing Bone. ISBN:  0-374-30248-0

Steig, William. Doctor De Soto. ISBN: 0-374-31803-4

Kitten's First Full Moon

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Henkes, Kevin. 2004. Kitten's first full moon. 1st ed. New York: Greenwillow Books. ISBN: 0060588284

PLOT SUMMARY

In Kitten's First Full Moon, young and adorable "kitten" has mistaken the moon for a big bowl of milk.  Her desire for the milk and determined attitude lead her on a nighttime adventure where a bug lands on her tongue, her nose gets bumped, she finds herself at the very top of a tree very scared, and ends up soaking wet.  After all this, she still hadn't gotten that bowl of milk she so badly wanted.  Feeling defeated and sad, she heads home to find a very nice surprise!  

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

This book, written and illustrated by Keven Henkes, is written using very simple language that gives just enough details to captivate the reader.  He takes you on a nighttime adventure with kitten where you fall in love with her curious nature and feel bad for all the mishaps she has as she is trying to get that elusive bowl of milk in the sky.  With each page turn, you can't wait to figure out what trouble kitten might be getting into next! 


The understated illustrations, as well as text, allow the reader to let their imaginations run wild.  Henkes uses a brush to create thick black lines in the pictures throughout the book.  The simple, yet bold illustrations include no color; only black, white, and grey, which captivate the reader and enhance the story.  The illustrations capture the clumsy nature of kitten, and the detailed facial expressions and body language allow the reader to understand the different emotions that kitten feels during her adventure.  

All young children have misconceptions about the world around them, which will help them to understand why kitten might think that the moon is a bowl of milk in the sky.  This funny, feel good story is one that could be read again and again, getting more from the story each time by studying the wonderful illustrations.  

AWARDS & REVIEW EXCERPTS

Awards:  Caldecott Medal 2005


Review Excerpts:
"Small children, for whom the rhythmic, action-oriented text is just right, will appreciate the gentle slapstick of the kitten getting a firefly on her tongue when she tries to lick the moon and getting drenched in the pond when she tries to drink the moon's reflection. Anyone who has ever watched a cat spasmodically pounce and chase for no apparent reason will enjoy the imaginative, unpretentiously poetic method Henkes reads into this madness."  Horn Book (May/June 2004)

"The rhythmic text and delightful artwork ensure storytime success. Kids will surely applaud this cat's irrepressible spirit." School Library Journal (April 1, 2004)

"From their first glimpse of the title character, licking her front paw on the cover illustration, youngsters will find the star of Henkes's (Wemberly Worried) fetchingly simple story quite irresistible." Publishers Weekly (February 16, 2004)

CONNECTIONS


-Have students infer feelings and emotions from the illustrations
-Have students sequencing the events in the story.
-Have students act out the events in the story.
-Teach students about the different phases of the moon.
-Have students think about a misconception they have had and how they figured out it wasn't what they thought it was.
-Kevin Henkes talks about creating the illustrations for Kitten's First Full Moon and other stories http://youtu.be/1svvJgo9LJg 

Henkes, Kevin. Little white rabbit. ISBN: 0062006428


Henkes, Kevin. A good day. ISBN: 006114018X


Raschka, Christopher. A ball for daisy.  ISBN: 037585861X


Rohmann, Eric. My friend rabbit. ISBN: 159643663

Click, Clack, Moo Cows that Type

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Cronin, Doreen. 2000. Click, clack, moo: Cows that type. Ill. by Betsy Lewin. New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers. ISBN: 0689832133

PLOT SUMMARY

Click, Clack, Moo Cows that Type is a funny story about a farmer who is having problems with the cows and hens on his farm.  Farmer Brown can't believe it when he starts receiving typed letters from the cows with outlandish demands.  He decides that he will not give into their demands, and the cows go on strike.  Farmer Brown grows even more furious when the hens get involved and join in on the strike.  How can he run a farm with no milk and no eggs?  Farmer Brown starts making demands of his own and has duck, a neutral party, deliver his letter to the farm animals on strike.  All sides come to an agreement, but what Farmer Brown didn't realize was that duck has a hidden agenda and has some demands of his own.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

This hilarious book by Doreen Cronin is sure to be loved by a wide range of young readers.  It is an easy to understand book that includes mostly simple sentences and a few above level vocabulary words such as "furious," "ultimatum," and "neutral."  Although these words may be unknown to the young reader, the context clues and pictures help to ensure there is no loss of understanding and keeps the reader on their toes.  The catchy refrain, "Click, clack, moo.  Click, clack, moo.  Clickety, clack, moo." is predictable and adds a way for the reader to engage in the read aloud by joining in.

The familiarity of the farm animal characters combined with items such a type writers and electric blankets that might be previously unknown to kids these days, creates a perfect marriage.  The unexpected events of cows typing on typewriters, hens on strike, and a duck as a mediator will leave kids constantly wondering what will happen next.  All kids have tried to negotiate to get their way at some point in their life, which makes it easy for them to connect to the funny antics of these farm animals demanding things from Farmer Brown.

Betsy Lewin has done an amazing job with the illustrations in this book.  The bold and colorful watercolor pictures really add a lot to the story by complimenting the text.  She uses a process of creating a basic, black and white water color picture and makes several photo copies of it.  She can then add different expressions and colors to the characters and piece many different drawings together.

The expressions of Farmer Brown, as well as those of the farm animals, help the reader to understand what each are feeling throughout the story.  Parts of the story are even told through the wonderful illustrations.  The note that the hens write to the farmer is included in the illustrations, but is a key part of the story.  The last page has no text written on it, but the end of the story is told through the clever illustration.

AWARDS & REVIEW EXCERPTS

Awards:   Caldecott Honor Book 2001

Review Excerpts:

"A laugh-out-loud look at life on a very funny farm."  School Library Journal (March 2000)


"They may have never heard the racket of a real typewriter, but they will certainly be familiar with the art of negotiation, and will soon be chanting along: "Click, clack, moo. Click, clack, moo. Clickety, clack, moo."  Horn Book (March/April, 2000)


"The thickly outlined pictures extend the fun, with closeups of the frenzied boss, the stalwart cows, and the hens cozy under their plugged-in blankets. Then there are the ducks . . ."  Booklist (Vol. 96, No. 15 (April 1, 2000))

CONNECTIONS

Lessons/Activities:

-Creative Writing - Have students create a story about an animal doing something unexpected such as cows that type

-Letter Writing - This book could be the introduction to a lesson on the art of letter writing

-Vocabulary - Use the context clues and illustrations to help the reader figure out the meaning of the unknown word

-Feelings/Emotions - Infer feelings and emotions from the characters as well as infer meaning of feeling words such as "furious," and "impatient."

-Science - Use the farm setting of the book to talk about what types of things and animals are found on a farm.

-Science - Teaching about what types of farm animals our food come from that we buy in the store

-Online games - http://pbskids.org/lions/cornerstones/click/games/

-Teacher Resources - http://pbskids.org/lions/cornerstones/click/resources/

Literature Connections:

Cronin, Doreen. Diary of a spider. Ill. by Harry Bliss. ISBN: 0060001534

Cronin, Doreen. Diary of a worm. Ill. by Harry Bliss. ISBN: 006000150X

Cronin, Doreen. Dooby dooby moo. Ill. by Betsy Lewin. ISBN: 1416996176

Cronin, Doreen. Duck for president. Ill. by Betsy Lewin. ISBN: 0689863772

Cronin, Doreen. Giggle, giggle, quack. Ill. by Betsy Lewin. ISBN: 1416903496